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A  LETTER 

FROM 

HARRISON  GRAY  OTIS 


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A LETTER 


FROM 

HARRISON  GRAY  OTIS 


GEN.  HARRISON  GRAY  OTIS, 

for  more  than  thirty  years  president  and  general  manager  of  The  Times- 
Mirror  Company,  departed  this  life  July  30,  1917,  at  the  age  of  80  years,  5 
months  and  20  days.  The  end  came  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Harry  Chandler  in  Hollywood,  where  he  had  been  living  for  several  months 
and  was  the  result  of  a  rupture  of  the  heart,  coming  just  after  the  General 
had  eaten  breakfast  in  bed.  That  he  recognized  it  as  fatal  was  indicated  by 
his  remark,  in  a  low,  unexcited  tone,  "I  am  gone."  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chandler 
hastened  to  his  bedside  but  death  ensued  almost  instantly.  Up  to  the  day 
of  his  death  Gen.  Otis  gave  such  attention  to  The  Times  as  his  health  would 
permit,  his  physical  condition  being  somewhat  impaired  during  the  last 
three  years,  He  was  always  loyally  supported  by  a  devoted  staff  which  he 
himself  had  trained  and  that  still  remains  on  guard.  The  last  few  months  of 
his  life  were  busy.  He  reconstructed  The  Illustrated  Weekly  Magazine, 
directed  the  development  of  his  ranch,  Milflores,  in  the  San  Fernando  Valley 
and  participated  in  several  notable  public  functions. 

The  funeral  services  were  held  Wednesday  afternoon,  August  1  in  the 
First  Congregational  Church.  There,  to  the  bier  of  the  soldier,  journalist- 
patriot,  came  a  great  concourse  of  people,  representing  almost  every  walk  in 
life.  Hundreds  of  people  were  unable  to  get  inside  the  building.  Eloquent 
addresses  by  Dr.  Hugh  K.  Walker  and  Dr.  Charles  E.  Locke,  both  of  whom 
had  known  Gen.  Otis  well,  expressed  esteem,  admiration  and  affection. 
Listening,  hundreds  of  Times  employes  were  thrilled  sadly,  for  he  had  been 
their  mentor  and  friend,  the  master  craftsman  whose  teachings  made  them 
better  and  more  efficient  workers. 

Gen.  Otis  was  a  Union  soldier  and  officer  throughout  the  Civil  War, 
brigadier-general  and  brevet  major-general  of  United  States  volunteers  in  the 
war  against  Spain.  His  grandfather  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War 
and  was  honorably  discharged  and  pensioned.  Prominent  members  of  the 
family  were  James  Otis,  famous  as  a  Revolutionary  patriot  and  orator  and 
the  first  Harrison  Gray  Otis,  once  a  United  States  Senator.  In  the  Civil  War 
he  participated  in  many  battles  and  skirmishes,  was  twice  wounded  and 
rapidly  promoted.  He  was  foreman  of  the  Government  printing  office  at 
Washington,  1869-1870  and  chief  of  a  division  in  the  United  States  Patent 
office,  1871-1876.  He  became  a  fourth  owner  of  the  Los  Angeles  Times  in 
1 882  and  in  1 884  joined  the  organization  of  The  Times-Mirror  Company. 
He  was  president  and  general  manager  of  the  company  from  1 886  to  the  time 
of  his  death.  He  was  president  of  the  Southern  California  Association  of  the 
Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States  and  of  many  other 
military  and  civic  organizations. 

For  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  Gen.  Otis  was  a  towering  figure 
in  the  city  of  Los  Angeles.  During  the  later  years  of  his  life,  the  influence 
of  his  personality  outgrew  boundaries:  he  became  a  national  figure.  Besides 
his  work  of  building  up  a  great  newspaper  he  participated  in  many  construct- 
ive enterprises  in  Southern  California.  He  loved  the  truth.  He  loved 
Los  Angeles  and  Southern  California  and  helped  to  make  them  strong.  His 
motto,  "Stand  fast,  stand  firm,  stand  sure,  stand  true." 


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Photographic  reproduction  of  original  first  page  of  "A  Letter  from  Harrison  Gray  Otis.' 


WHAT  THE  COURSE  OF 
"THE  TIMES"  SHALL  BE 

LETTER   OF   GEN.  OTIS  TO   MR.  AND 
MRS.  CHANDLER  — THEIR  STATEMENT 


three  years  ago  General  Harrison  Gray  Otis  ad- 
dressed  to  his  son-in-law  and  daughter,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Harry  Chandler,  to  whom  his  controlling  interest  in 
The  Times  was  transferred,  a  remarkable  letter  or  declaration. 
It  was  in  the  form  of  carefully-wrought  instructions  and  sug- 
gestions as  to  the  lines  on  which  The  Times  should  be  conducted 
after  his  demise.  While  expressing  confidence  in  the  purposes 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chandler,  it  laid  down  in  an  affectionate, 
fatherly  and  confident  way  his  parting  injunctions  to  his  suc- 
cessors in  interest,  control  and  management. 

This  document  is  a  classic  in  the  annals  of  journalism  and 
will  be  read  with  world-wide  interest.  It  is  the  ultimate  wisdom 
of  the  venerable  editor  and  manager,  whose  sagacity  and  able 
generalship  made  The  Times  a  wonderful  institution.  To  com- 
ment on  this  telling  document  would  be  superfluous.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Chandler  are  now  the  controlling  owners  and  managers  of 
The  Times.  The  General's  letter  to  them  is  here  reproduced 
and,  following  that,  their  statement  as  to  the  future  course  of 
this  journal: 

DECLARATORY 


LOS  ANGELES  (CAL.,)Nov.  12, 1914. 
To  Harry  Chandler  and  Marian  Otis-Chandler,  his  wife: 

Dear  Harry  and  Dear  Marian:     After  mature  deliberation 
I  write  you  as  follows: 

I.     In  placing  in  your  joint  and  trusted  hands  the  high 
trust  and  valuable  property  conveyed  or  to  be  conveyed  by  me, 

[7] 


I  explain  at  the  outset  that  my  matured  purpose  in  thus  acting 
will  be  to  concentrate  the  future  ownership  and  control,  and 
also  the  destiny,  of  the  most  precious  of  all  my  material  posses- 
sions, the  Los  Angeles  Times,  in  the  hands  (before  my  death) 
of  members  of  my  own  family,  whom  I  specially  trust  in  this  con- 
nection and  who  have  had  long,  practical  experience  with  me 
in  the  building  up,  care,  control  and  training  of  this  stalwart 
child  of  our  mutual  efforts  and  affections,  and  of  my  own  almost 
lifelong  professional  skill,  labor  and  devotion.  In  doing  this,  I 
lay  upon  you  only  these  fundamental  injunctions  as  to  its  future 
course  and  conduct  in  your  hands,  and  (as  far  as  I  may  properly 
enjoin  you  personally)  as  to  your  own  course  as  its  future  re- 
sponsible conductors,  viz.: 

(1.)  Using  the  legal  and  other  legitimate  powers  and  pre- 
rogatives that  will  be  yours  as  the  sole  owners  of  more  than  two- 
thirds  of  the  capital  stock  of  the  corporation,  take  and  exercise 
at  all  proper  times  complete  control  and  authority  in  all  depart- 
ments, including  especially  the  editorial  and  business,  as  well  as 
the  news-gathering  branches,  which  impart  tone,  temper,  char- 
acter and  stability  to  a  journal,  and  make  it  respected  and  in- 
fluential. Make  sure  of  your  board  of  directors  and  of  the  loy- 
alty, zeal,  competency  and  faithfulness  of  your  lieutenants  and 
the  entire  working  force  at  all  times. 

(2.)  Preserve  and  protect  with  steadfastness  and  deter- 
mination the  record,  traditions  and  achievements  of  The  Times, 
and  continue  its  fixed  and  leading  policies  and  methods;  uphold 
its  aims,  purposes  and  aspirations  in  all  large  and  essential  par- 
ticulars, and  throughout  the  varying  mutations  of  present-day 
journalism,  perpetuate  unimpaired  its  independent  and  unfet- 
tered course. 

(3.)  Constantly,  consistently  and  loyally  uphold  and  de- 
fend the  Constitution  and  the  Flag,  the  Congress  and  the  courts, 
the  executive  power  within  its  prescribed  and  lawful  limitations, 
and  cherish  the  Army  and  the  Navy,  those  bulwarks  and  strong 
arms  of  the  government. 

•  [8] 


(4.)  Stand  undeviatingly  for  Liberty  under  Law,  for  in- 
dustrial and  all  other  forms  of  republican  freedom,  and  for  sound 
government  as  the  surest  safeguard  of  the  nation,  the  State,  the 
city  and  the  home.  Bravely  face  in  their  defense,  whenever  the 
need  comes,  the  frenzied  mob  and  the  prescriptive  madness  of 
the  hour. 

(5.)  Stand  for  honor,  honesty  and  order  in  the  State,  the 
nation  and  the  home,  and  for  that  private  and  public  morality 
which  are  essential  to  the  perpetuity  of  sound,  human  govern- 
ment. While  courageously  supporting  these  virtuous  principles, 
at  the  same  time  oppose  with  all  your  might  their  opposites  and 
whatever  tends  to  the  demoralization  of  human  society  or  jeop- 
ardizes the  safety  of  the  land  or  the  rights  and  liberties  of  its 
citizens.  Antagonize  unceasingly  all  allied  private  or  semi-pri- 
vate industrial  combines  which  would  unlawfully  wrest  from  the 
free-born  American  citizen  his  guaranteed  constitutional  right  to 
industrial,  personal  or  political  freedom  and  make  him  the  slave 
of  an  arrogant  and  monopolistic  trades  despotism.  While  striking 
hard  and  deserved  blows  against  these  and  other  intolerable 
evils,  keep  in  mind  that  better  state  when  there  shall  be  "peace 
upon  earth  and  good  will  among  men."  Scourge  as  with  a  whip 
of  scorpions  dishonesty,  pretense,  hypocrisy,  scoundrelism,  trea- 
son to  Truth  and  the  country  and  every  form  of  evil  that  threatens 
with  destruction  the  home,  the  community  or  the  country,  and 
at  the  same  time  encouraging  every  sound  tendency  and  condition 
in  human  society  that  makes  for  its  preservation,  stability  and 
endurance  on  high  and  right  lines. 

(6.)  Stand  for  sound,  rational  and  tested  business  methods 
and  policies  in  the  management  of  The  Times  newspaper,  as 
well  as  in  the  conduct  of  commercial  and  public  business,  in 
order  that  this  journal  and  all  honest  people  may  "live  long  and 
prosper,"  grow  in  grace  and  be  happy.  Hold  up  the  hands  and 
cheer  the  hearts  of  the  lowly  and  deserving,  no  matter  how  humble 
they  may  be;  quail  not  before  the  aggressions  of  unjust  power, 
and  live  and  die  game  and  true.  Fear  God  and  do  right. 


[9] 


(7.)  Encourage  all  free,  independent  and  honest  labor,  no 
matter  how  humble,  so  it  be  honestly  conducted;  at  the  same 
time  not  hesitating  to  support  and  defend  powerful  financial, 
commercial  and  industrial  alliances,  provided  that  they,  too, 
operate  honestly  and  legitimately,  when  organized  to  accomplish 
mighty  and  worthy  tasks  too  formidable  to  be  undertaken  by 
single  individuals;  for  true  it  is  that  it  is  not  the  size  of  the  op- 
eration, but  the  integrity  with  which  it  is  conducted,  that  deter- 
mines its  legitimacy.  Always  bear  in  mind  the  demonstrated 
truth  that  it  is,  after  all,  the  sane,  brave,  level-headed,  self- 
restrained,  right-hearted,  honest  men  and  women  of  the  land 
upon  whom  rests,  and  will  always  rest,  the  responsibility  for 
holding  the  family,  society,  business,  government  and  the  country 
together. 

(8.)  Continue  the  upstanding  and  long-pursued  policy  of 
this  journal  in  working,  day  in  and  day  out,  for  the  upbuilding  on 
sound  lines  of  the  favored  and  favorite  city  and  section  wherein 
The  Times  and  its  makers  have  their  homes;  and  continue  also 
to  aid  and  abet  the  unhalting  advance  of  all  California,  the  entire 
Pacific  Coast  and  the  "ultimate  West." 

(9.)  Ever  place  patriotism,  duty  and  honor,  public  and 
private  morality  and  the  true  interests  of  the  State  and  country 
before  mere  commercialism  or  material  success  in  the  conduct 
of  The  Times.  Thus  may  this  journal  of  ours  be  caused  to 
grow  in  strength,  usefulness  and  power,  able  to  plough  through 
the  turbulent  sea  of  journalism  like  a  full-rigged  man-of-war. 

(10.)  Concerning  the  all-important  subject  of  the  matter 
and  scope  of  the  general  contents  of  the  paper  after  it  shall  have 
come  under  your  ownership,  control  and  management,  it  is, 
of  course,  neither  practicable  nor  proper  for  me  to  speak  here, 
except  in  a  very  general  way.  You  know,  and  will  always  bear 
in  mind,  the  paramount  fact  that  this  journal  is,  and  must  con- 
tinue to  be,  first  of  all  a  newspaper — a  vehicle  for  the  dissemi- 
nation of  current  news  reports  and  information ;  a  faithful  recorder 
of  contemporaneous  history  and  affairs,  of  new  knowledge  and 
of  the  tremendous  daily  happenings  of  the  mighty  Present 

HOT 


around  all  the  globe,  no  matter  of  what  nature  or  complexion 
the  occurrences  may  be,  provided  they  possess  human  interest. 
Moreover,  The  Times,  being  a  proper  medium  for  thinkers, 
they  will  be  given,  as  always  in  the  past,  impartial  hearings  in 
its  broad  columns  whenever  they  are  able  to  enlighten  the  world, 
or  contribute  to  those  transcendent  problems  of  human  life, 
human  living  and  human  government  which,  if  they  are  to  be 
wisely  solved,  will  always  require  the  best  thought  and  effort 
of  the  best  men  and  women  upon  earth.  In  the  columns  of 
The  Times  will  be  found,  I  doubt  not,  in  the  future  as  in  the  past, 
graphic  accounts  of  the  doings  of  the  far-flung  human  race; 
absorbing  narratives  of  adventure  and  achievement;  of  research 
and  investigation;  of  travel  and  discovery;  of  progress  in  the 
arts,  sciences  and  invention;  of  toil  and  triumph;  of  hardship, 
endurance  and  ultimate  success;  of  everything,  indeed,  that  is 
new  to  men  and  of  living  interest.  The  press  is  a  colossal  sur- 
veyor of  the  world-wide  news  field,  scanning  the  entire  civilized 
globe  and  faithfully  purveying  to  an  ever-waiting  public  the 
luminous  record  of  daily  and  mighty  happenings  among  men  and 
nations.  I  am  convinced  that  you  will  continue  to  make  The 
Times  do  its  full  share  in  the  strenuous  work  of  the  press  in 
general,  making  it  what  it  has  long  aimed  to  be — but  even  more 
so — a  powerful,  far-reaching  daily  news-field-glass,  exposing 
to  the  public  view  the  world's  foremost  events  and  occurrences, 
and  proclaiming  them  widely  to  the  sons  of  men  at  Sol's  diurnal 
revolution;  to  make  this  newspaper,  in  brief, 

"A  map  of  the  busy  world, 

Its  fluctuations  and  its  vast  concerns." 

So  may  we  confidently  hope  for  The  Times  an  honorable, 
a  foremost  and  a  permanent  place  in  the  large  field  of  American 
journalism,  and  that  always  those  men  and  women  who  serve 
it  faithfully  may  feel  high  and  genuine  pride  in  their  personal 
alliances  with  "Ours." 

Accurate  news-gathering,  correct  reporting,  skillful  editing, 
graphic  illustrating  and  good  printing  all  go  to  make  up  a  finished 

[W 


modern  newspaper,  which  should,  of  course,  be  written  in  pure, 
forceful,  unstilted  and  luminous  English. 

II.  Finally.  Bearing  in  mind  that  Truth  is  the  greatest 
thing  in  all  the  world,  and  Duty  the  first  concern  of  good  men  and 
women,  I  enjoin  the  foregoing  precepts,  principles  and  practices 
upon  you  in  the  future  conduct  of  the  Los  Angeles  Times,  because 
of  my  affections  for  you  and  for  it.  I  enjoin  you  both  to  guard 
well  your  precious  health,  as  well  as  the  sacred  trust  now  by  me 
committed  to  your  trusted  and  trustful  hands  and  hearts. 

With  good  aims  and  generous  purposes  toward  all  concerned 
in  this  pregnant  transaction,  with  unfeigned  regards  and  my 
living  blessing,  to  be  followed,  let  us  hope,  by  a  blissful  reunion 
in  the  mysterious  Beyond,  coupled  with  undying  associations 
and  imperishable  recollections  of  our  mutual  campaigns  upon 
earth, 

I  subscribe  myself  your  steadfast  and  affectionate  father, 
[Signed] 

HARRISON  GRAY  OTIS 
"The  Bivouac,"  Westlake. 


[12] 


STATEMENT 

BY 

MR.    AND    MRS.    CHANDLER 


In  assuming  the  sacred  trust  and  grave  responsibilities 
conveyed  to  us,  the  faithful  carrying  out  of  which  is  dearer  than 
life  itself,  it  is  fitting  for  the  undersigned  to  say: 

(1.)  That  in  so  far  as  human  power  and  limitations  will 
permit,  The  Times  will  be  conducted  in  harmony  with  the  in- 
domitable spirit,  high  ideals  and  well-considered  injunctions  of 
its  great  architect  and  builder,  Harrison  Gray  Otis.  The  Times 
will  continue  to  be  THE  TIMES— The  Times  of  Gen.  Otis, 
The  Times  that  he  made. 

(2.)  That  every  man  and  woman  concerned  in  the  issuing 
of  The  Times  from  day  to  day  is  so  thoroughly  imbued  with  the 
convictions,  aims  and  policies  for  which  it  has  so  long  stood,  and 
so  heartily  in  sympathy  with  the  causes  for  which  it  has  so  long 
battled,  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  them  to  disregard  the 
last  instructions  of  the  great  chief  or  to  produce  a  newspaper 
out  of  tune  with  the  principles  he  has  laid  down. 

(3.)  That  not  only  duty  and  affection  and  devotion,  but 
inherent  conviction,  will  co-operate  in  the  hearts  and  hands  of 
the  makers  of  The  Times  in  carrying  on  the  work  so  efficiently 
directed  by  Gen.  Otis  for  more  than  a  third  of  a  century,  and 
this  shall  and  must  be  the  sound,  brave  newspaper  that  he  would 
have  it  be.  Men  may  die,  but  influences  do  not;  and  the  spirit 
of  its  great  achieving  editor  shall  still  dominate  The  Times. 

(4.)  There  could  be  no  loyalty  finer  than  that  of  the  co- 
owners  and  fellow-workers  who  have  helped  Gen.  Otis  raise  up 
this  great  newspaper  and  to  whom  it  owes  so  much;  and  shoulder 
to  shoulder  they  will  keep  up  the  warfare  for  truth,  for  freedom, 
for  the  protection  of  honest  labor,  for  the  decent  treatment  of 
honestly-acquired  wealth,  for  the  encouragement  of  noble  en- 
terprise and  for  the  development  of  the  Southland  and  the  State. 


[13] 


(5.)  It  was  often  said  by  Gen.  Otis,  and  may  be  now  re- 
iterated, that  The  Times  could  not  have  won  its  victories  and 
registered  its  achievements  for  truth  and  right,  but  for  the  loyal 
and  steadfast  support  of  the  great  body  of  men  and  women, 
made  up  of  Southern  California's  best  citizenship,  who  have 
been  its  friends  and  patrons  in  every  stress  and  circumstance. 
In  its  third  of  a  century  and  more  of  toil  and  struggle  and  success, 
The  Times  has  been  heartened  and  nourished  by  the  wonderful 
faith  and  support  of  the  truest,  most  devoted  and  most  sym- 
pathetic clientele  that  it  was  ever  the  good  fortune  of  any  news- 
paper to  be  blessed  with.  It  shall  be  the  highest  endeavor  of 
The  Times  to  merit  and  secure  a  continuance  of  this  friendship 
and  co-operation. 

(6.)  The  years  have  vindicated  the  rightfulness  of  Gen. 
Otis' s  stand  in  the  long  and  arduous  campaigns  against  tyranny 
and  injustice  and  for  liberty  and  fairness  which  he  waged. 

With  an  inspiration  and  a  loyal  force  like  ours,  there  can  be 
no  faltering,  no  wavering,  no  shadow  of  turning.  The  Los 
Angeles  Times  will  go  on,  and  on,  and  on,  never  surrendering 
one  inch  of  its  ground,  never  yielding  one  hair's  breadth  of  the 
vantage  it  has  gained  for  liberty  and  right. 

[Signed] 

HARRY  CHANDLER, 
MARIAN  OTIS-CHANDLER. 


'[14] 


'<s/ 

^Y-x^2^2^^C 

>  ^* 


Photographic  reproduction  of  original  last  page  of  "A  Letter  from  Harrison  Gray  Otis. 


GENERAL  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA— BERKELEY 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or  on  the 

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Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


JAN191 


11APR'61BT 
REC'D  LD 

MAR  2  9  1961 


AUTODBCC 


WAY  1  5  2004 
JUN  0  1  2004 


LD  21-100m-l,'54(1887sl6)476 


18 '93 


